Photo credits and licencesAges and opening hours
Check the age range, opening hours, holiday calendar and attendance options. Match the nursery timetable to the family's working day.
Settling into nursery
Discuss a gradual introduction to the group, communication with staff and support for your child. Ask to see the rooms and walk through a typical day.
Understand the contract
Ask about meals, additional activities, absences and refunds. Keep a complete list of charges.
Finding a home nearby
Compare walking and driving routes. Check the approach to the building, parking and access with a pushchair.
Compare two nurseries on an ordinary workday
Imagine one nursery has a place near home but closes before your working day ends; another is farther away but has suitable hours. Write down who collects your child if you are delayed, how settling in works during the first weeks and the journey from the actual home. Visiting both helps reveal which option works every day, not merely which looks closer on a map.